New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-04-27
THE SNAKE KING.
BY WALLACE P. REED.

From the Constitution
It was a suitry August morning, and
John Maston was up early. He had
long ride before him to Pyramid,
and his young wife urged him to start
with the rising sun, and return late in
the afternoon, in order to avoid the
midday heat.
The Matson plantation stretched
for miles along the Alabama river.
The nearest white neighbor was ten
miles off, and it took three hours to
reach the village OF Pyramid.
Matson and his wife stood on the
broad piazza. looking down the slop-
ing lawn to theroad, where Black Tom
was waiting with the horse and buggy.
Far away to the right wreaths ofdense
fog indicted the winding course Of the
river. Not a breath OF air stirred the
semi-tropical foliage OF the trees, and
the atmosphere was laden with the
perfume OF thousands of flowers and
aromatic plants.
"What does this mean?" said Mat
son, as several negroes turned in from
the road, and approached the house,
bearing in their strong arms a limp
and motionless figure.
sob, John, it is, a dead manp' ex-
claimed little Mrs. Matson.
The planter ran down to meet the
men. They were all field hands, and
he knew every black face in the group.
"Hello, Sam. what is the matter?
What is up he asked the leader.
'"Ter tell de troof, Marse Boss"
replied Sam, nervously scratching his
head, "Tse 50 plumb done put out
bout dis ting dat | dunno muffin
Dis yer white man must be sicker-
dead, dunno which. We found him
down by de landin', an we jist brung
him erlong."
'Is he dead?" gasped Mrs. Matson.
t"No, but he is unconscious" said
her husband, who had been examin-
ing the stranger. s'We must take care
Of him, of course. I hate to go off to
town now, but I can't help it. I'll
wait half an hour or go and see what
turns up
The man was carried to a large and
comfortable room and carefully put
to bed by Sam and another negro.
Then Mr.. Matson felt his pulse and
took a good look at him.
The strange-looking, sallow face, lean
to the point of emaciation, with the
tangled black hair around it, had a
weird look with it's background Of
white pillows. A small dose of brandy
was forced through the tightly closed
mouth, and the man suddenly opened
his eyes. They were such shining
black orbs that Sam fell back mutter-
ing:
ttF,o' de Lawd!'
Half an hour later Matson went to
his wife and said:
''Well, I must go. Aunt Lucy is
looking after our patient, and you will
do the best you can. The case does
not require a doctor. Some beef tea
to-day and something solid to.mor-
row will bring the fellow up. He is
nearly dead from exposure and star
vation."
'sBut who-?"
ooh, yes" answered Matson, "you
want to know who he is, where he is
from. and why he is in this FIX. 1t is
no time to question HIM now. He
looks like a foreigner, a Cuban or per-
haps a Gypsy. He speaks little En-
Elish. and that is all know Youneed
not be afraid of him. He is as feeble
as an infant, and a little withered old
chap with the queerest little head in
the world. It is long and narrow,and
looks more like a snakes head than
anything else
ooh, John, you frighten mel"
..But it does,' remarked John
laughing, 'tand now that I think of
his snaky eyes and his sinuous motion,
it strikes me that snaky is the best
description that could be given OF him.
Ugh! 1t makes my flesh crawl to look
at him. But that is neither here nor
there. When ! get back I'll attend to
him. y
And giving his wife kiss, Maston
ran down to the buggy, jumped in and
dashed Off on his way to Pyramid.
Lett alone, so far as white faces
were concerned, with a mysterious
stranger in the house, Mrs. Matson
felt a peculiar nervousness which she
could not shake off. For awhile she
busted herself experimenting house
hold affairs, but finally she could not
resist the temptation to pass the door.
Of the sick mans room and look i'll.
There he was, sWarthy- and wrinkled,
and looking more like a snake shan
ever. The serpentine head raised it
self with an arching motion. and the.
little black eyes sparkled like beads
as poor Mrs. Matson glanced into the
room. AS for Aunt Lucy, she follow
ed her mistress into the hall.
de Lawd hab mussy," she said.
ssbut Marse John otter stay at home
Btidder trapsin' off ter town. Dat
man IN dar skeer me ter def. /"
The lady of the house said something
|reassuring, and went into the parlor,
where she vainly tried TO amuse her
self in various ways.